Ram ke naam: Ram mandir consecration ‘prasad’ becomes new bait of online fraud

Cyber scammers are capitalising on the high fervour surrounding the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, using it as a ploy to deceive unsuspecting individuals, according to a ToI report. If you receive a message offering 'prasad' from the sacred event and it includes a link for payment, refrain from clicking.

Modus Operandi

Police said that the scammers send messages to random numbers, assuring the delivery of 'prasad' from Ayodhya. Upon clicking the link provided in these messages, users are prompted to input their details. Almost immediately after entering their phone numbers, the fraudsters obtain access to the linked bank accounts. The entire process of siphoning off the funds takes mere seconds.

Some deceitful groups are even enticing people with offers like phone recharge, using a similar modus operandi to gain unauthorised access to bank accounts. A city police officer cautioned, "There is hardly any religious organization or institution that delivers prasad like this. If anyone comes across such messages, please ignore them and don’t click on any links."

Cops have urged individuals to report such incidents promptly, either through the national cyber helpline (1930) or the website cybercrime.gov.in.

Meanwhile, The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a show-cause notice to Amazon Seller Services, the entity operating the e-commerce giant's India marketplace. The notice, dated January 19, addresses the sale of food products under the name 'Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad' on the platform. Amazon has been given seven days to respond, with potential legal action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 looming.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has clarified that guests at the consecration ceremony on January 22 will be gifted 'Ramraj' and laddu prasad. 'Ramraj' comprises soil extracted during the temple's foundation laying. However, there is no provision for online delivery of prasad.

This isn't the first instance of cyber fraudsters exploiting relevant events. During the Covid pandemic, scammers preyed on individuals by promising booster vaccine shots, medicines, doctor consultations, and oxygen cylinders, taking advantage of the crisis.

Faridabad police chief Rakesh Kumar Arya emphasized that fraudsters seize on relevant events or situations to target victims. He cited examples from the Covid pandemic when fraudulent appeals were made for donations to the PM Cares fund and false promises regarding the availability of oxygen cylinders.

An officer from the Cyber police station highlighted the need for awareness to protect against cyber fraud. He urged people not to blindly trust messages or calls and emphasized the importance of verifying payment gateways before proceeding. Stay vigilant to safeguard against these online threats.